Desk-lid support.



No. 833,687. PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906.

' J. HERZOG.

.DESK LID SUPPORT.

APPLICATION PI'LED JAN. 11, 1906.

W Memes oRms P 0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN .HERZOG, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HERZOG ART FURNITURE 00., A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Application filed January 17,1906. Serial No. 296,518.

To all whom, it may concern:

.ing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My present invention relates to improvements in supports forthat class of desk-lids which are swung downward to present a writing-surface; and the object of the invention is to produce a support which will bestrong and durable, but of such a simple construction that it may be manufactured at a slight cost.

Such a device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings; and the invention consists in certain novel features of the same, as will be hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out inthe claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the upper portion of a desk, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section on the line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line III III of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing a modification. The table A and top B of the desk are of the usual construction. In theinner faces of the ends O, I form horizontal grooves D, which are T-shaped in cross-section, the head of the T being disposed vertically, while the stem of the same extends horizontally through the face of the desk end, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The rear ends of these rooves open through the back edges of the desk ends, while their front ends are closed, as clearly shown. The lid E is hinged at its lower edge to the front edge of the table and when raised rests upon the front inclined edges of the desk ends. The support F has a pivotal connection at one end with the lid and its other end has a sliding connection in the groove in the end of the desk. This support consists of an arm of sheet metal doubled longitudinally on itself, so as to be of an inverted-U shape in cross-section, and its outer end is pivotally secured to the upstanding branch of a shoe or bracket G, which is rigidly secured to the lid by means of screws or other fastenin 's inserted through its base-plate into the id, the upstanding portion of the bracket fitting between the branches of the arm F. The inner portion of the arm F is turned upward, as shown at H, and to its extremity I rigidly secure a headed cylindrical pin 1, which engages and is arranged to slide along the groove D in the end of the desk, the said headed pin being engaged in the said groove through the rear end of the same before the back of the desk is secured in place. At about the center of the arm F, I slightly expand the branches of the same, so as to accommodate a buffer or cushion J, of paper or similar substance, the branches being compressed upon the buffer after it is inserted, so as to securely hold the same.

When the desk is opened, the lid is swung outward and downward into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the bracket G will of course follow its movement, so that the arm or support F will be swung downward and pulled outward to assume a horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, immediately over the table, with the buffer resting upon the same. The inner end of the support or arm F will travel forward alon the groove D as the lid is swung outward, an when the lid reaches its horizontal position the pin I will be in engagement with the front end of the groove, so that the strain of supporting the lid. will be transmitted to the end of the desk through the said pin. As the lid is raised to close the desk the pin will be caused to travel rearward along the groove, and the parts will assume the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the headed pin is dispensed with and the end of the arm F is bent into an inverted-U-shaped lateral lip to engagein the groove D, as shown at K. This construction is somewhat cheaper than the other form illustrated, but operates in the same efficient manner.

It will be readily observed from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I have provided a very simple support which will occupy but little room and which will lie close to the desk when the same is opened to provide the proper working space without necessitating the cutting away of the lid to form recesses for the reception of the support. The lid is consequently not weakened, at any point. By curving up the inner portion of the supporting-arm, as shown and described, the inner retaining pin or hook is placed above the table-top, so as to avoid scratching or wearing the same, and at the same time the arm is brought down close to the opened lid, so as to firmly hold the same. Furthermore, this arrangement lifts the sustaining-point, which is the inner end of the arm, up above the table, so that the strain put on the desk when it is in use is applied along the arm rather than transversely thereto, the result being that the desk is stronger than is the case with prior arrangements. The end of the arm is never brought to the front edge of the table, and consequently the tendency of the lid to sag and bend the arm is effectually resisted withoutemploying slides below the same to support it. By engaging the end of the supporting-arm in a horizontal groove in the end wall of the desk I simplify and reduce the cost of construction, as I avoid the use of metal bearing-plates. The construction of the groove positively prevents displacement of the supporting-arm.

Having thus described my invention, .What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a desk having a countersunk horizontal groove in its end wall above the table, the rear end of said groove opening through the rear edge of the end Wall and the front end thereof being closed and in rear of the front edge of the end wall, a lid hinged to the table of the desk, and a supporting-arm having its front end pivoted to the lid and its rear end curved upward and provided with a lateral headed offset slidably engaged in the horizontal countersunk groove and adapted to impinge against the front closed end of the groove when the lid is lowered whereby the lowered lid will be suspended from the front end of the groove.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrilo ing Witnesses.

JOHN HERZOG. Witnesses:

THEO. F. GAENSBAUER, RUTH BENJAMIN. 

